How to survive mild winters: Cold acclimation, deacclimation, and reacclimation in winter wheat and barley.

Cold acclimation and vernalization represent the major evolutionary adaptive responses to ensure winter survival of temperate plants. Due to climate change, mild winters can paradoxically worsen plant winter survival due to cold deacclimation induced by warm periods during winter. It seems that the ability of cold reacclimation in overwintering Triticeae cereals is limited, especially in vernalized plants.

Protocol for identifying Dicer as dsRNA binding and cleaving reagent in response to transfected dsRNA.

Mammalian Dicer has been proved to be functional on double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and involved in antiviral immunity or immune regulation. Here, we present a protocol for identifying Dicer as a dsRNA binding and cleaving factor to transfected dsRNA in cell lines, based on small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and dsRNA-immunoprecipitation (dsRNA-IP). We detail both experimental processes and analysis on small RNA-seq data.

doubletrouble: an R/Bioconductor package for the identification, classification, and analysis of gene and genome duplications.

Summary: Gene and genome duplications are major evolutionary forces that shape the diversity and complexity of life. However, different duplication modes have distinct impacts on gene function, expression, and regulation. Existing tools for identifying and classifying duplicated genes are either outdated or not user-friendly.

Genomic highlights of the phylogenetically unique halophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium, Rhodothalassium salexigens.

Rhodothalassium (Rts.) salexigens is a halophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium and the sole species in the genus Rhodothalassium, which is itself the sole genus in the family Rhodothalassiaceae and sole family in the order Rhodothalassiales (class Alphaproteobacteria). The genome of this phylogenetically unique phototroph comprises 3.

Pericytes mediate neuroinflammation via Fli-1 in endotoxemia and sepsis in mice.

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) often results from neuroinflammation. Recent studies have shown that brain platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) cells, including pericytes, may act as early sensors of infection by secreting monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which transmits inflammatory signals to the central nervous system. The erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (Fli-1) plays a critical role in inflammation by regulating the expression of key cytokines, including MCP-1.

The Impact of Selenium on the Physiological Activity of Yeast Cells ATCC 7090 and CCY 20-2-26.

Background: This study investigated the selenium-binding capacity of the biomass of two yeast strains, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 7090 and CCY 20-2-26.

Methods: The studies carried out methods of bioaccumulation by yeast biomass. Inorganic selenium was added to the culture media as an aqueous solution of NaSeO at concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 mg Se/L.

Plant Colonization by Biocontrol Bacteria and Improved Plant Health: A Review.

The use of biological control agents is one of the best strategies available to combat the plant diseases in an ecofriendly manner. Biocontrol bacteria capable of providing beneficial effect in crop plant growth and health, have been developed for several decades. It highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the colonization mechanisms employed by biocontrol bacteria to enhance their efficacy in plant pathogen control.

Assembly and Annotation of the Tetraploid Salsola tragus (Russian thistle) Genome.

This report presents two phased chromosome-scale genome assemblies of allotetraploid Salsola tragus (2n=4x=36) and fills the current genomics resource gap for this species. Flow cytometry estimated 1C genome size was 1.319 Gbp.

Eight Years of Norovirus Surveillance in Urban Wastewater: Insights from Next-Generation.

Human noroviruses (HNoVs) are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, with significant public health implications. In this study, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was used to monitor the circulation and genetic diversity of HNoVs in Rome over an eight-year period (2017-2024). A total of 337 wastewater samples were analyzed using RT-nested PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify genogroups GI and GII and their respective genotypes.

Low-Level Zoonotic Transmission of Clade C MERS-CoV in Africa: Insights from Scoping Review and Cohort Studies in Hospital and Community Settings.

Human outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are more common in Middle Eastern and Asian human populations, associated with clades A and B. In Africa, where clade C is dominant in camels, human cases are minimal. We reviewed 16 studies (n = 6198) published across seven African countries between 2012 and 2024 to assess human MERS-CoV cases.

Screening of Insertion Sites and Tags on EV-A71 VP1 Protein for Recombinant Virus Construction.

This study aimed to create a new recombinant virus by modifying the EV-A71 capsid protein, serving as a useful tool and model for studying human Enteroviruses. We developed a new screening method using EV-A71 pseudovirus particles to systematically identify suitable insertion sites and tag types in the VP1 capsid protein. The pseudovirus's infectivity and replication can be assessed by measuring postinfection luciferase signals.

High-Throughput Oxford Nanopore Sequencing Unveils Complex Viral Population in Kansas Wheat: Implications for Sustainable Virus Management.

Wheat viruses are major yield-reducing factors, with mixed infections causing substantial economic losses. Determining field virus populations is crucial for effective management and developing virus-resistant cultivars. This study utilized the high-throughput Oxford Nanopore sequencing technique (ONT) to characterize wheat viral populations in major wheat-growing counties of Kansas from 2019 to 2021.

Dynamic Roles of RNA and RNA Epigenetics in HTLV-1 Biology.

Since the discovery of RNA in the early 1900s, scientific understanding of RNA form and function has evolved beyond protein coding. Viruses, particularly retroviruses like human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), rely heavily on RNA and RNA post-transcriptional modifications to regulate the viral lifecycle, pathogenesis, and evasion of host immune responses. With the emergence of new sequencing technologies in the last decade, our ability to dissect the intricacies of RNA has flourished.

Neurotropic Tick-Borne Flavivirus in Alpine Chamois (), Austria, 2017, Italy, 2023.

The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species , family ) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species. Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois () with encephalitis and attached ticks, present over a wide area in the Alps. Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria, and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy.

Comparative Analyses of Antiviral Potencies of Second-Generation Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) and the Developmental Compound 4d Against a Panel of Integrase Quadruple Mutants.

Second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are strongly recommended for people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). The emergence of resistance to second-generation INSTIs has been infrequent and has not yet been a major issue in high-income countries. However, the delayed rollouts of these INSTIs in low- to middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic combined with increased transmission of drug-resistant mutants worldwide are leading to an increase in INSTI resistance.

Betacoronaviruses Differentially Activate the Integrated Stress Response to Optimize Viral Replication in Lung-Derived Cell Lines.

The betacoronavirus genus contains five of the seven human coronaviruses, making it a particularly critical area of research to prepare for future viral emergence. We utilized three human betacoronaviruses, one from each subgenus-HCoV-OC43 (embecovirus), SARS-CoV-2 (sarbecovirus), and MERS-CoV (merbecovirus)-, to study betacoronavirus interactions with the PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) pathway of the integrated stress response (ISR)/unfolded protein response (UPR). The PERK pathway becomes activated by an abundance of unfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to phosphorylation of eIF2α and translational attenuation.

Herald Patch as the Only Evidence of Pityriasis Rosea: Clinical, Laboratory and Pathogenetic Features.

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a self-limited exanthem associated with the endogenous systemic reactivation of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7. The disease typically begins with a single erythematous patch on the trunk (herald patch), followed by a secondary eruption of smaller papulosquamous lesions. Rarely, the herald patch may be the only cutaneous manifestation of PR.

Flunarizine as a Candidate for Drug Repurposing Against Human Pathogenic Mammarenaviruses.

Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever disease with a case fatality rate that can be over 20% among hospitalized LF patients, is endemic to many West African countries. Currently, no vaccines or therapies are specifically licensed to prevent or treat LF, hence the significance of developing therapeutics against the mammarenavirus Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of LF. We used in silico docking approaches to investigate the binding affinities of 2015 existing drugs to LASV proteins known to play critical roles in the formation and activity of the virus ribonucleoprotein complex (vRNP) responsible for directing replication and transcription of the viral genome.

Enhanced Immunogenicity and Affinity with A35R-Fc-Based Chimeric Protein Compared to MPXV A35R Protein.

The re-emergence of the mpox pandemic poses considerable challenges to human health and societal development. There is an urgent need for effective prevention and treatment strategies against the mpox virus (MPXV). In this study, we focused on the A35R protein and created a chimeric A35R-Fc protein by fusing the Fc region of IgG to its C-terminal.

Genomic, Evolutionary, and Pathogenic Characterization of a New in Traditional Chinese Medicine .

, a medicinal herbaceous plant documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a promising candidate for research into plant-derived pharmaceuticals. However, the study of newly emerging viruses that threaten the cultivation of remains limited. In this study, plants exhibiting symptoms such as leaf yellowing, mottled leaves, and vein chlorosis were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing to identify potential viral pathogens.

Targeting EBV Episome for Anti-Cancer Therapy: Emerging Strategies and Challenges.

As a ubiquitous human pathogen, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has established lifelong persistent infection in about 95% of the adult population. The EBV infection is associated with approximately 200,000 human cancer cases and 140,000 deaths per year. The presence of EBV in tumor cells provides a unique advantage in targeting the viral genome (also known as episome), to develop anti-cancer therapeutics.

Interpretation of COVID-19 Epidemiological Trends in Mexico Through Wastewater Surveillance Using Simple Machine Learning Algorithms for Rapid Decision-Making.

Detection and quantification of disease-related biomarkers in wastewater samples, denominated Wastewater-based Surveillance (WBS), has proven a valuable strategy for studying the prevalence of infectious diseases within populations in a time- and resource-efficient manner, as wastewater samples are representative of all cases within the catchment area, whether they are clinically reported or not. However, analysis and interpretation of WBS datasets for decision-making during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, remains an area of opportunity. In this article, a database obtained from wastewater sampling at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and university campuses in Monterrey and Mexico City between 2021 and 2022 was used to train simple clustering- and regression-based risk assessment models to allow for informed prevention and control measures in high-affluence facilities, even if working with low-dimensionality datasets and a limited number of observations.

Clinical Performance of MAGLUMI Diagnostic Tests for the Automated Detection of Dengue Virus.

Aims: The screening and diagnosis of dengue virus infection play a crucial role in controlling the epidemic of dengue fever, highlighting the urgent need for a highly sensitive, simple, and rapid laboratory testing method. This study aims to assess the clinical performance of MAGLUMI Denv NS1 in detecting dengue virus NS1 antigen.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the sensitivity and specificity of MAGLUMI Denv NS1 using residual samples.

Comparative Analysis of Hemagglutination Inhibition and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Tests for Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody Detection.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), belonging to the family. Diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis (JE) based on clinical signs alone is challenging due to the high proportion of subclinical cases. The Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for detecting JE-specific antibodies because of its high specificity.